This is a most interesting but very difficult subject, but we think that the result, although not perhaps absolutely complete, is pretty correct. Probably many of our readers may be able to suggest additions that they would like to see in, but we have no doubt these have been considered, and for some reason excluded. Still, we find it difficult to understand why such an one as Jacob is not included, at any rate in Division 3. We will, however, leave the task of suggesting improvements to others, and just consider what is before us.
In the first division we find that the direct types of Scripture present Christ to us as —The second Man (Adam), as God’s servant (Eliakim, the Hebrew servant), as God’s Son (Isaac), as a royal and a holy priest (Melchizedeck and Aaron), as the Mediator (Moses), as our Captain (Joshua), as the Rejected on earth (David), as the King of glory (Solomon), as our food (manna), as the source of blessing (the Rock), as come in the Ash (veil), as devoted to God in life (meat offering), also hi. His death, as God’s Lamb (the Passover), doing His will in death (burnt offering), our peace (peace offerings), delivered for our offenses (sin offerings, &c.), dying and rising the third day (Jonah), and the only ground of God’s mercy (mercy seat).
What a rich and full presentation we thus get of Christ even from this first list, affording the deepest instruction for the soul that will ponder each aspect in connection with the type.
The personal glories, it will be observed, are seven in number, Man, Servant, Son, Priest, Mediator, Captain, King. Passing on to Division 2, we come to “Indirect types and figures of Christ.” Christ is presented as the Lord’s anointed (Cyrus), as the Living Stone (Stone cut out without hands), as our heavenly food (the corn), as consecrated to God, separate from earth (the Nazarite). In His human perfection (the ark of God), as the Light of the world (Light), and the Sun of righteousness (Sun), and also (in two wonderful panoramas) historically in His sufferings and glories, and personally in all His varied perfections (Joseph and the Tabernacle). We also get Christ in death as a refuge (cities of refuge), as given by God (the ram), also as the Lamb of God (the firstling), as abolishing death (Ark in Jordan), and lastly as restoring us through the Word (water, red heifer).
Division 3. contains types of Christ, as the Righteousness of God (Coats of skin,) the only place of safety (the Ark), our Leader and Guide (the pillar), the Prophet (Samuel, &c.) as a Savior (Esther), and in many other ways.
It is interesting to notice in how many of these types of Christ we have a subsidiary or accompanying type or figure of the Church; thus:-with Adam we get Eve; with Isaac, Rebecca; with Moses, Zipporah; as the Hebrew servant we get “ I love my wife;” with David we get Abigail; with the Sun the Moon; with Joseph, Zaphnath-paaneah; with Boaz, Ruth; and with Esther, Mordecai. It is certainly amazing to see from the above how much we may learn of Christ from the Old Testament, and it would be an interesting task, which we commend to our readers, to make a list of all the aspects of Christ revealed in the New Te stamen’, and which are NOT foreshadowed in the Old. We shall be glad to receive such a list from any of the Class, as we have no doubt but that it would interest our readers generally to have it printed.
Once more, before leaving the subject, we would most earnestly impress on our readers the vast amount of spiritual food that lies hidden in this subject. It is one thing to dig the food out of the ground-this is what the Class does; but quite another to feed on it. Do not, beloved readers, let us content ourselves with admiring truth; but oh, when it is so full of Christ as here, let us feed on it, that through it Christ Himself may become Jar more precious to our souls than He has been before. Pray to Him that He may open your eyes in all these Scriptures to gaze upon Himself.